New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-26
NEW.YOPKS POLICE FORCE.

Near at hand is the time for that annual fes-
tival, the reunion and dinner Of the Police
Captains of New Y Ork. This is wont to be an
occasion of much felicity and congratulation,
and it is only fair to say that the men whose
work has brought the police force to its present
high standard of efficiency are entitled both to
congratulate themselves and TO be congratulated
by others. The Just feeling of pride which
good workman takes in his own good work is
not merely permissible, it is stimulating and
useful, and the police captains and their
superior officers will have the warm sympathics
of the public in their merry making Ger
tainly there never has been time in the citys
history when the Police Department was held
in higher esteem, or when the public could iecl
that person and property were better protected
against criminals.
1t is no easy task to make NcwYork safe
city to live in. Access to it and cgrcss from
It are so readily gained that knavcs have every
possible advantage over the defenders Of the
law In foreign cities a system Of espionage
IS kept over all travellers. All hotel. boarding
house and lodging house keepers, from the
highest TO the humblcst are compelled to
furnish the police with an immediate report OF
arrivals. Every approaching and departing
railway train is carefully watched and sur
VIGILANCE over private persons and dwelling
houses is practscd which in this country would
not be tolerated an instant. The police here
have few of the facilities for detecting and
preventing crime which abound in European
cities to an extent that makes the officers OF
the law masters over the lower classes Of the
people. Moreover. on account Of lis situation
Ncw-York is of all large cities by far the most
difficult TO protect.
The problem Of peace and order seems TO be
we'll solved. however by the present Commits
sioncrs and their principal subordnatcS. The
secret of the solution is organization. Never
before have the police and detective forces
been so we'll disciplined and controlled as now.
They arc a perfect machine operating with
remarkable quickncss and elect. street crimes
in Ncw-Yolk are almost entirely
thing Of the past Large robbcrics
arc no longer heard Of knaycs Of
high degree avoid this city as the
mariner avoids the whirlpool. Passion some
times docs its fen work. but audaclty prefers
a community where there is less counicr-aud1c-
ity in the police authorities TO contend with.
There is always danger where forcO Of police
men is strong and full Of mcttlc that brutal
and wholly indcfcnsiblc arrests viii be made.
We do hear more or less Of tins sort Of thing.
but il is 50 judiciouslv and severely treated by
the Commissioners that 1t Is becoming rare.
Much of this notable improvement IN the
force has come about under the supcrlntcndcncy
Of Mr.. Murray. His predecessor. Superintendent
Walling was an abic. brave man. but his adj
vanccd age rendered him unable to maintain
that watchfulncss and care which are absO-
Iutcly essential TO discipline. Mr.. Murray has
shown the wisdom Of his appointment and has
pursued firm. Icsolute. practical course
which has given him popularity with his men
and esteem from the public. His stan of In
spcctors has been we'll chosen for him 10 sup
PIGMENT his work. They are men Of undouDlcd
courage and skin. whose records have wal
lantcd their selection. SO far as could reason
ably be expected. perhaps. partisan politics has
been kept out Of The councils q the COmmis-
si0ncr> and with even better success. out q
the acts Of the force. The police are brave,
sturdy fellows and so Tong they maintain
their present useful and effective organization
shall Ialic pleasure IN commenting and
ASSISTING them